Method and mechanism for centrifugal treatment of substances



June 28,1927. 1,634,243

L.. D. JONES METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR CENTRIFUGAL TREATMENT; 0F SUBSTANCES Filed Oct. '7. 1921 Ilwenon IeO. youeo) MFM Patented June 28, 1927.

UNiTED STATES' parlar-:lar OFFICE.`

LEO D. JONES, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE SHABPLES SPECIALTY COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

METHOD AND MECHAN'ISM FOR CENTRIFUGAL TREATMENT 0F SUBSTANCEB.

Application led October This invention relates to centrifugalapparatus and to processes involving the use of the same and particularly to such apparatus and processes wherein substances are i subjected to the action of centrifugal force to effect a desired change therein and are thereafter centrifugally discharged in dispersed form from the influence of centrifugal force.

l Substances are subjected to centrifugal force to effect various changes therein such as separation into its constituents, emulsication, breaking of emulsions, treatment with a reagent, removal of impurities, and other l changes constantly increasing in number with the application of the principles of centrifugal treatment to additional industrial operations. In the effective application of the principles of centrifugal treatment, the substances are centrifugally dischar ed from the centrifugal rotor in al highly ispersed state and in that condition they are highly sensitive to surrounding influences andthe conversion of the substances into that state,

and subsequently intoan agglomerated or collected state, may also aifectthe condition of the substance treated.

In accordance with my invention a substance is subjected to the action of centrifugal force to effect a desired change therein and to discharge the substance from the inuence 1of centrifugal force in a dispersed state and the conditions of the ,atmosphere into which the substance is so discharged a5 and within whichit exists in a dispersed state are so regulated as to control the condition of the substance while it is in that state as by promoting, or preventing, or controlling, changes occurring in the substance due to the conditions of the surrounding atmosphere or resulting from the centrifugal treatment. Thus in accordance with my invention changes may be produced or prevented, or controlled, in the substance discharged from the centrifuge, by regulation of the conditions of the atmosphere into which the substance is centrifugally discharged in dispersed form, such regulation of the atmosphere being made in accordance with the vlaws of ph sics and chemistry to produce the desire effect.

7, 1921. Serial N0. 506,165.

and disposed to adhere to receivers therefor, I

thus accumulating and interfering with the desired operations. J

The practice of such a method and the use of such mechanism in accordance with my invention involves the discharge of .a fluid within the receptacle into which an euent from a centrifu al rotor 'is received and so affecting said e uent as to prevent its accumulating in the receptacle.

In the treatment of petroleum oil for the separation therefrom of etrolatum or 'wax contained therein, the oi hasbeen chilled and then run through a centrifugal rotor 'from which the separated wax and wax freed oil are delivered to receiving compartments or covers; a carrier li uid, such as brine, being used in the rotor or facilitat- Aing the operation.

As the wax discharged from the bowl is viscous, it is disposed to adhere to the walls of the compartment or cover into'which it is discharged and to accumulate, with resulting obstruction ofthe method above referred to which embodies the operation lafter some time.

In the preferred ractlce of my invention, hot brine is de ivered againsttlie top of the compartment for receiving the wax eflluent and washes such top so as to heat the same and remove the wax therefrom, the wax beiv heated by the heated surface, against vltl'ich it is thrown, by contact with the brine and `by the heated atmosphere of the compartment, so that its fluidity is increased and its discharge from the cover or receptacle is facilitated.

The invention is embodied and exemplified in the construction and operation set out in the following description and the accompanying drawings in illustration thereof. i

In the drawings,Fi g. 1 is a 'broken sectional view showing the top of a centrifugal rotor provided with improvements of my A invention, and Fig. 2 is a part sectional plan of the constructlon as seen with the top cover removed.

In the drawings, the centrifugal rotor 1 has the neck 2, by which it is suspended and revolved, and is provided with the passages 3 and 4, through which the centrifugally separated and stratified constituents are discharged.

In the separation of wax from chilled oil, the separated Wax flows through the passages 3 to the channel 5 whence it is discharged over the Weir or dam 6 concentric with the rotor, and the wax freed oil flows to the discharge passages 4 over the Weir or dam 7 and through the compartment 8 concentric with the rotor.

A cover 9, supported detacliably by the case 10, provides the compartment 11 into which the Wax is discharged as it is de- .-livered over the Weir 6, and a cover 12,

supported detachably by the cover 9, provides a compartment 13 for receiving the wax freed oil from the passage or passages 4.

A tubular ring or delivery conduit 14, connected With a supply conduit 15 and provided with the apertures 14', encircles the bowl neck 2 in proximity to the top of the `bottom surface of the conical bottom I12 of the cover 12, the part l12 forming the top of the compartment 11. The conduit 14 is adapted for discharging hot fluid through its peripheral openings 14 against the bottom surface of the part 12 above l `the Wax discharged over the Weir 6, such l partment 13 Will heat that commonwall 12',

and also the atmosphere within compartment 11, and the heat of that common wall 12 will heat the atmosphere in-compartments 11 and 13.

A further example of centrifugal mecha-vv nism and operations wherein my invention is applicable is found in Letters PatentNo. 1,232,104 to P. T. Sharples. In operation such machines rotate about 15,000 R. P. M. Obviously Suitable fluids and liquids and other means may be employed to effect the desired control of the atmosphere Within the spirit of my invention.

In a division hereof, Serial No. 182,236 filedApril 9, 1927, there is claimed the speciic application of my invention to the dewaxing of petroleum oil and the details of mechanism suitable for that purpose. Herein are claims directed to that broad aspect of my invention whereby the condition of a substance lis controlled by regulating the.

.lation of the temperature of such atmosphere.

Having described my invention, I claim :-M

1. In the centrifugal treatment of a sub-' stance the process which comprises subjecting the substance to the action of centrifugal force to effect a desired change in the substance and to discharge the substance in dispersed form from the influence of the centrifugal foroe,and suitably regulating the conditions of the atmosphere within which the substance is so discharged to control the condition of the substance so discharged.

2. In the centrifugal treatment of a substance, the process which comprises subjecting the substance to the action ofgcentrifugal force to effect a desired change in the substance and to `discharge the substance in dispersed form from the influence of centrifugal force into a collecting receptacle and controlling the condition of the substance so discharged by projecting a suitable luid into said receptacle while said discharged substance exists in dispersed form therein.l i

3. `In the centrifugal treatment of substances, the roces which comprises centrifugally subsi ing and centrifugallydischarging the substance in dispersed form and suitably regulating the conditions of the atmosphere within which the substance is discharged to control the condition nof the substance during and after discharge thereof.

4. In the centrifugal treatment of substances, the process which comprises effecting a desired change ina substance by subjecting it to the action of centrifugal force and centrifugally discharging the changed substance from the influence of centrifugal force, and suitably regulating the conditions of the atmosphere Within which the substance is so discharged to control the condition of the substance duringdischarge thereof. l

5. Inthe centrifugal treatment of a substance the proeesslwhich comprises subjecting the substance to the action of centrifugal force to effect a desired change in the substance and to discharge the substance in dispersed form from the iniuence Aof the centrifugal force,"and suitablyregulating the conditionsof the atmosphere within which the substance is so discharged to prevent undesirable alteration of the substance while it exists in thedispersed state in which it is discharged. i

6. In the centrifu al treatment of substances, the process w ich comprises centrifugally subsiding and centrifugally discharging the substance and suitably re lating the conditions of the atmosphere wlthin which the substance is discharged to control further alterations in the substance during discharge thereof. Y

7. In the centrifugal treatment of substances,'the process which compriseseffecting I desired change in a substance by subjectlng to the action of centrifugal `force and centrlfugally discharging the changed Substance from the inliuence of centrifugal force, and suitably regulating the conditions of the atmosphere within which the substance is so discharged to control. further change in the substance during discharge thereof.

8. In the centrifugal treatment of a substance thel process which comprises subjectthe'substance is so discharged.

9. In the centrifugal treatment of substances the process comprising subjecting a substance to the action of centrifugal force and thereby separating it into its const-ituents and discharging one of said constituents in dispersed `form, and discharging hot uid into contact with the substance so discharged while it exists in such finely dispersed form, and thereby controlling the condition thereof. C)

10. In combination, a centrifugal machine of the type wherein a substance is subected to the action of centrifu al force to e ect a cha-nge therein and centrifugally discharged in a dispersed state, and means for regulating the conditions of the atmosphere within which the substance is centrifugally discharged in a dispersed state.

11. In combination, a centrifugal machine of the type wherein a substance is sub'ected to the action of centrifugal force to e ect a .change therein and centrifugally discharged 1n a dispersed state, a compartment for collectlng a substa ce so discharged, and means .for regulating the condition of the atmosphere within said compartment and thereby controlling the condition ofthe substance while it exists in the dispersed state in which it is discharged.

12. In a centrifugal apparatus, the combination of a rotary separating bowl provided with an upper outlet for the discharge of the lighter separated liquid and a lower outletV for the discharge of the heavier separated liquid, receptacles, one over the other,

ositioned to receive the liquids delivered rom the .respective bowl discharges, and means to substantially raise the temperature being delivered in dispersed form from the upper bowl outlet into the upper receptacle.

13. In the centrifugal treatment of a sub-v stance, the process which comprises subjectiug the substance to the action of centrifugal force to effect a desired change in the substance and t'o discharge the substance in dispersed form from the influence of centrifugal force, and'suitably regulating the temperature of the atmosphere, within which the substance is so discharged in dispersed form, to control they condition of the substance so discharged.

14. The lmethod comprising subjecting a substance to the action of centrifugal force and thereby separating it'into its constituents and discharging one of said constituents against the wall of a collecting receptacle, and simultaneously discharging a jet of hot fluid against said wall and into contact with said substance discharged against vsaid wall. 15. The mechanism which comprises the combination with a centrifugal rotor havlng Separate outlets for the discharge of constituents separated.' by the action of centrifugal force, a receptacle for collecting a constituent discharged from the influence of the centrifugal force, said receptacle having a surface against which the constituent collected therein is thrown, and a jet projecting a fluid against said surface of said receptacle impinged by a constituent'discharged from said rotor.

16. Mechanism for the separation of substances comprising a centrifugal bowl having separate outlets for the discharge of separated substances, receptacles respectively positioned to receive substances discharged from said outlets, and means directin hot fluid against an inner surface of one o said receptacles and imparting heat to another ofl said receptacles.'

17. Mechanism for the separation of substances comprising a centrifugal bowl having separate outlets for the discharge of separated substances, receptacles havin a common wall and respectively positions to receive substances discharged from said outlets, and -means directing hot fluid against one surface of said common wall.

18. Mechanism for the se aration of substances comprising a centri ugal bowl having separate outlets for the discharge of separated substances, receptacles respectively positioned to receive substances as they discharge from saidA outlets and having a common wall, and means heating said common wall.

19. Mechanism for the separation of substances comprising a centrifugal bowl having separate outlets for the discharge of separated substances, receptacles respectively positioned to receive substances discharged from seid outlets and having a' common wall against one side of which one discharged substance impinges and over the other side of which another discharged substance fiows, and meansdirecting hot fluid against one side of said wall. f

20. Mechanism for the separation of substances comprising acentrifugal bowl having separate outlets Jfor the discharge of separated substances, receptacles respectively positioned to receive substancesas they discharge from said outlets, and a single means heating both of said receptacles:

21. ln a centrifugal apparatus, the combination of a rotary separating bowl provided with a plurality of discharges for liquids of different speciic gravities, a receptacle surrounding the bowl and positioned to receive the liquid delivered from one of said discharges, a pipe entering said receptacle, said pipe opening in the neighborhood of the stream of liquid discharging from the bowl into said receptacle, and means for passing heated fluid through ,said pipe and out said opening and heating said receptacle.

22. The mechanism 'which comprises thecombination with a centrifugal rotor having outlets for separated constituents and' a conduit extending around the axis of said rotor, said conduit having apertures for projecting a heating iuid against a surface of said receptacle. y

23. rlhe mechanism whichcornprises the combination with a centrifugal rotor having outletsfor the discharge of separated constituents, anda receptacle for receiving a constituent discharged from said rotor, of a conduit having an aperture opening into said receptacle whereby heating iuid may be applied within said receptacle to the constituentreceived therein. v

A centrifugal machine comprising a rotor having means for separately discharging constituents of different densities of a substance separated in said rotor, an effluent collector with which a constituent makes initial contact on its discharge from said rotor and over which it flows to a discharge point, and means for maintaining a heating fluid in contact with said collector over an area substantially equal to the area of the path of iiow of said etiluent' and heating the collector section with which saidconstituent makes initial contact.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name this 4th day of October, 1921.

LEO D? JONES. 

